After a lull, there is a spurt in cases related to smuggling of sandalwood, especially from private land in Marayur and adjoining areas.
The police on Friday visited the land owned by the Vincentian Ashram at Nachivayal from where a mature sandalwood tree was smuggled out a day before. The sandalwood, with a width of 15 cm, is valued around ₹2 lakh in the market.
The Marayur police inspected the area after a complaint was given by the ashram authorities. Though many sandalwood trees were stolen from the same area, no one has been arrested so far.
A tree from the land owned by an Edakkadavu resident, valued at ₹5 lakh, was stolen at night. When there is sandalwood smuggling from private land, the case is registered with the police.
Shortage in force
It is not the Forest Department but the police who inquire the case. With severe shortage of staff in the police station, the inquiry often hangs fire.
An official of the Forest Department said there was a considerable fall in cases related to smuggling of sandalwood from the forest area. This was after strengthening night monitoring.
He said smugglers often cut the trees at night during heavy rain so that landowners would not notice the sound. Smugglers make note of mature trees and fell them when night watch is inadequate.
There are large numbers of sandalwood trees in private land in and around Marayur. The responsibility of growing them is entrusted with the landowners.
The Forest Department purchases the mature sandalwood from the owners only when it is naturally dead.
